Faculty Board

General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Business Administration

for the Degree of Doctor at the School of Economics and
Management, Lund University
This syllabus was adopted by the Board of the School of Economics and Management on 13
April 2007 and amended on 14 September 2012 and 16 June 2014. See also Regulations for
Third-Cycle Studies at the School of Economics and Management, adopted on 18 December
2013, reg. no EHL 2013/182.
Third-cycle studies are offered to the extent that available resources allow.
1 Aim of the programme and learning outcomes
The third-cycle programme in Business Administration at the Lund University School of
Economics and Management aims to provide students with specialised knowledge of the subject
of business administration, thorough knowledge of different research methods and a good
understanding of the common research issues and their practical application. The overall aim of
the programme is to train students to become critical and independent researchers in business
administration able to plan and carry out research projects.
On completion of the programme, the doctoral students shall be able to

demonstrate broad knowledge in business administration and a systematic

understanding together with deep and up-to-date specialist knowledge in a defined part
of the field
demonstrate familiarity with scholarly methods in general and with methods in the
specific field of research in particular
demonstrate an ability to engage in scholarly analysis and synthesis and in independent,
critical examination and assessment of new and complex phenomena, issues and
situations
demonstrate an ability to identify and formulate issues, critically, independently and
creatively, and to plan and, using appropriate methods, conduct research and other
advanced tasks within specified time limits, and to scrutinise and evaluate such work
demonstrate, in a thesis, their ability to make a substantial contribution to the
development of knowledge by their own research
demonstrate an ability to present and discuss research and research results with
authority, in dialogue with the scholarly community and society in general, orally and in
writing, in both national and international contexts
demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge, and
demonstrate a potential to contribute to the development of society and support other
peoples learning, both in the field of research and education and in other advanced
professional contexts

Postal address Box 7080, 220 07 LUND Visiting address Tycho Brahes vg 1 Telephone +46 46 222 09 54
Fax 046-222 34 06 Email alf.rosenback@ehl.lu.se Website www.ehl.lu.se

demonstrate intellectual independence and scholarly integrity and an ability to make

ethical assessments relating to research, and
demonstrate deeper insight into the potential and limitations of scholarship, its role in
society and peoples responsibility for how it is used

For the overall aims of the programme, see also Regulation for Third-Cycle Studies at the
School of Economics and Management and the Qualifications Ordinance for third-cycle degrees
(licentiate and doctor) in the Higher Education Ordinance Annex 2.
2 Admission Requirements
2.1. General admission requirements
An applicant has general eligibility for third-cycle studies if he or she has been awarded a
second-cycle degree, has completed course requirements of at least 240 credits1, including at
least 60 second-cycle credits, or has acquired the equivalent knowledge in some other way,
either in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 7 Section 39).
Pursuant to a transitional provision applicable up to the end of 2015, a student who met the
general entry requirements for doctoral programmes before 1 July 2007 will also be considered
to meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes after that.
2.2. Specific admission requirements
An applicant is eligible to be admitted to third-cycle studies in Business Administration if he or
she fulfils the general admission requirements and has completed at least 90 credits in a relevant
subject, as well as an independent project in a relevant subject worth at least 15 credits. An
applicant is also eligible if he or she has acquired the equivalent knowledge in some other way,
either in Sweden or abroad.
3 Admission and selection
Admission to third-cycle studies takes place twice a year. A student admitted to studies for a
degree of licentiate must apply again to be admitted to studies for a degree of doctor.
The head of department decides on admission to the programme in consultation with the
director of research studies and, when necessary, a specialist in the area of the applicants
planned research project. The overriding selection criterion is the applicants ability to benefit
from the programme. Other selection criteria are the applicants study record, research
achievements, papers, reports etc., as well as the research project plan that the applicant will be
expected to submit. First- and second-cycle degree projects are particularly important.
Prior to admission, the department considers to what extent appropriate supervision can be
offered, i.e. that there is at least one member of the academic staff who has the qualifications of
a reader and adequate knowledge of the applicants research field, and who is available for
supervision. A financing plan must also be submitted on admission, showing that the applicants
entire period of study is appropriately financed.
Before studies can commence, the student must register for the programme and state the degree
of activity for the studies. Subsequently, the research student must register at the beginning of
each semester and state the degree of activity, decided in consultation with the supervisor.

240 higher education credits correspond to 160 credits in the previous provisions, so that 1.5 higher
education credits correspond to 1.0 old credit.

4 Programme structure and content

4.1. Programme structure
The third-cycle programme comprises courses and thesis work. Tuition is offered in the form of
lectures, seminars and supervision. The programme demands four years of full-time study. If the
student is granted a doctoral studentship and carries out departmental duties to an extent of no
more than 20 per cent of the post, the duration of the period of study will be extended
correspondingly.
An individual study plan shall be drawn up for all doctoral students, stating the structure of the
studies and the financing. The study plan is to be drawn up in consultation with the supervisor
and approved by the head of department. It is to be reviewed at least once every year. If a
doctoral student fails considerably to follow what is stated in the study plan, the right to
supervision and other resources may be revoked. Further rules regarding study plans can be
found in the faculty regulations for third-cycle studies.
The programme encompasses 240 credits, divided into a course component of 90 credits and a
thesis component of 150 credits.
4.2. Courses and other components
The course component consists of the following compulsory elements:
-

Overview of research methods comprising 15 credits

Qualitative research methods comprising 7.5 credits
Quantitative research methods comprising 7.5 credits
Theory of science comprising 7.5 credits
Theory of Business Administration comprising 7.5 credits

Information on which of the courses offered at the department that correspond to compulsory
elements is to be found in the current course information.
The remaining 45 credits consist of optional courses that can be selected from the full range of
third-cycle courses at the department. Second-cycle courses passed during first- or second-cycle
studies may be transferred to the third-cycle programme. Other courses taken at Lund or other
higher education institutions (including institutions abroad) may also, if approved by the head of
department, be included in the third-cycle programme. This also applies to courses equivalent to
the compulsory elements of the programme.
As a part of the studies and thesis work, the doctoral student shall actively participate in
seminars on the research activities of the department and the thesis work of other doctoral
students. Moreover, doctoral students are expected to critically review the thesis work of other
students at work-in-progress seminars.
During work on the thesis the doctoral student is expected to present the thesis work at the
compulsory departmental seminars. It is a minimum requirement that the doctoral student has
two internal seminars during the period of study; one is to take place at an early stage and
consist of a critical discussion and assessment of the planned subject of the thesis; the other is to
take place at a late stage and consist of a discussion and assessment of the complete thesis. In
addition, the student is given the opportunity of having at least one more seminar, midway
through the programme. This is not a requirement but is recommended by the department.

4.3 Doctoral thesis

The doctoral thesis can be designed either as a monograph or as a compilation thesis consisting
of a collection of papers structured into a unity. The thesis shall be based on independent
research. If the thesis is co-authored by several authors, it must be possible to discern the
individual contributions. The thesis is assessed by a grading committee usually consisting of
three members. Further instructions regarding the thesis, public defence, grading committee etc.
can be found in the Regulations for Third-Cycle Studies at the School of Economics and
Management.
4.4. Supervision
All doctoral students at the department are entitled to at least two supervisors, one of whom is to
be appointed principal supervisor and have the qualifications of a reader. Admitted students are
entitled to supervision corresponding to four years of full-time study and with a duration of no
more than eight years from the time of admission. The supervisors should provide the doctoral
student with advice on which courses to choose and how to focus the thesis work as well as
support throughout the work.
5 Tuition and examination
Tuition is carried out through courses and seminars. The course provision at the department is
planned annually, taking into account the resources available in terms of academic staff and
funding. Besides the organised course provision, general seminars and guest lectures are
provided.
Doctoral students with teaching duties should attend at least two weeks of the Universitys
teacher training and all doctoral students shall be offered the opportunity to take courses in
teaching and learning in higher education.
For a degree of Doctor, the student must have passed all examinations included in the
programme and the doctoral thesis.
Further information regarding the thesis, public defence and the grading committee is available
in Regulations for Third-Cycle Studies at the School of Economics and Management, reg. no
EHL 2013/182.

6 Further information
Information on admission and application deadlines is provided by the department.